Gage Lanning
Director of Strategy | Business Growth, FP&A, and Strategic Planning Executive
- Role
- Director - Strategy at Delaware North
- Location
- Buffalo, NY, US
- LinkedIn followers
- 500 followers
About Gage Lanning
Strategy executive with 7+ years of progressive leadership in corporate strategy, business development, and FP & A at Delaware North — a $4B+ global leader in sports, entertainment, and experiential hospitality.Currently serving as Director of Strategy, I partner closely with the C-suite to shape enterprise-wide direction for a portfolio that includes major sports venues (NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA), national park destinations (Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon) and premium resorts (Tenaya Lodge, Southland Casino Hotel, The Squire). My focus: portfolio optimization, M&A execution (acquisitions and divestitures), capital allocation, and accelerating growth in dynamic markets.Throughout my career, I have:• Led the company’s inaugural enterprise-wide portfolio review and executed multiple buy-side acquisitions and a major sell-side divestiture — all completed with seamless integration/transition and zero impact on ongoing guest operations across the portfolio.• Built and scaled Delaware North’s first dedicated corporate strategy function, creating end-to-end capabilities in portfolio optimization, M&A execution, capital allocation, and long-range planning that directly shaped multi-year growth priorities.• Pursued, negotiated and closed 10+ major partnership deals with globally recognized brands establishing new revenue streams in experiential hospitality and entertainment while simultaneously standing up and leading a high-performing business development team.I excel at translating complex data and market volatility into clear, executable plans that drive outsized returns — whether through organic growth, strategic partnerships, or M&A. My background blends rigorous financial modeling (Excel, Tableau, scenario planning) with hands-on leadership of cross-functional teams in high-stakes, guest-facing environments.Open to conversations about transformative growth, portfolio strategy, or the future of guest experiences. Let’s connect!
Experience
Director - Strategy
May 2023 — Present · Buffalo, NY, US
Education
Canisius University
Master of Business Administration - MBA, Finance and Financial Management Services
2018 — 2020
Canisius University
Bachelor of Science - BS, Finance, General
2016 — 2018
Herkimer County Community College
Associate of Science - AS, Accounting
2014 — 2016
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